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Sekhakh literally means “covering” and refers to the roofing material used for the sukka. It is the essential component of the sukka. (In fact, the word “sekhakh” is the basis of the word “sukka.”) Sekhakh must meet the following three requirements:
- It must be made of plant matter. This means it must be something which grows from the ground, such as trees and shrubs. In contrast, metal, dirt, and plastic may not be used for sekhakh. Even though they originate in the ground, they do not grow.
- It must be detached from its source. This means the branches have been cut down and are no longer connected to the ground.
- It must not be processed. Thus, tree trunks, branches, and even wooden boards are acceptable. However, if they have been turned into furniture (such as chairs and beds), they may no longer be used.
The sekhakh must provide protection from the sun. As long as the sekhakh blocks most of the sun’s rays, the sukka is kosher. This is measured by how much sun hits the sekhakh, not by how much sun is visible on the sukka floor. This is because as the sun’s rays descend, they become diffused, so the floor makes it seem as if the sunny area is greater, when in fact the shady area is greater. What if most of the sekhakh is thick (and there is more shade than sun), but the rest is sparse (where there is more sun than shade)? The entire sukka is kosher, and even those sitting underneath the sparse sekhakh are fulfilling the mitzva.
Ideally, the sekhakh should provide plenty of shade, so that being in the sukka is a pleasant experience. At the same time, the sekhakh should not be so thick that it resembles a permanent roof. It is preferable that stars be visible through the sekhakh at night, or minimally that sunlight be visible during the day. However, even if no sunlight at all can penetrate the sekhakh, the sukka is still kosher.
It is proper to decorate the sukka. If a decoration is hanging close to the sekhakh and is less than about 9 inches or 22 cm wide, it is not considered to be a problematic separation between the sekhakh and those in the sukka, since it is meant to decorate and not to provide shade.
